Glad tidings to all, even in the extremely weird year that is 2020. My outdoor, adventure and travel-themed Christmas gift guide is here to help you find the perfect present for the luckiest explorers in your life, including the perfect gifts for swimmers, campers and your Secret Santa. Merry Christmas, you filthy animals – and here’s to an adventurous 2021!
Travel and Outdoors Christmas gift guide 2020
1, Tetbury roll-neck jumper, £110, Beautfort and Blake
Perfect for: country ramblers
Beaufort and Blake’s timeless knits make lovely gifts for countryside lovers. This delicious cosy fawn wool jumper comes in recycled (and recyclable) packaging.
2, Ojbro Lyksele Merino Mittens, £52, Trouva
Perfect for: a spot of hygge
Just the most charming and Christmassy mittens ever, made following traditional Swedish folk patterns and crafted from toasty warm Merino wool.
3, Moisturising cream tin, £10, High Life Organic
Perfect for: climbers
High Life Organic’s lovely solid balms are hand made using organic ingredients and designed with climbers and other outdoors sportswomen and men in mind – perfect for anyone who is often out in the elements.
4, Waterproof Lucy hoops earrings, £25.99, Hey Harper
Perfect for: ocean lovers
Hey Harper’s stainless steel earrings may look like your favourite gold hoops, but they have a secret super power – they’re fully waterproof, and don’t tarnish even when worn in salt water.
5, Heritage Winter boots, £170, Timberland
Perfect for: snow bunnies
Classic Timberlands on the bottom, warm faux fur-lined quilted fabric on top – these winter boots, made with recycled materials, are like a hug for your feet. Perfect for stomping through snow, wearing for a spot of après ski or just battling the worst of Britain’s winter weather.
6, Tent patch, £6, Finest Imaginary
Perfect for: happy campers
If anything were to sum up how I feel about 2020 and what I’m wishing for next year, it would be this ‘less intense, more in tents’ patch. Sew it on your backpack and let’s all hope for more nights under the stars to come.
7, Cabin print, £15, Ruth Thorp Studio
Perfect for: forest dwellers
Illustrator Ruth Thorp’s outdoor-inspired print collection include charming ocean, mountain and meadow designs, but my favourite is this extremely cosy-looking little cabin lost in the woods.
8, Princess Leia swim hat, £6.50, Speedo
Perfect for: secret geeks
May the force be with you on your chilliest swims – this fun swim cap from Speedo is made of durable silicone and illustrated with everyone’s favourite badass galaxy girl. At under £10 it makes a great stocking filler or Secret Santa for your favourite swim fan.
9, Sörmland reversible beanie hat, £55, Fjallraven
Perfect for: snow days
Stay snug when you’re out in the cold in Fjallraven’s reversible Merino beanie. Turning up the bright orange cuff makes you more visible in low light – perfect for adventuring on the shortest days of winter.
10, Beeswax wraps kit, £11.95, Etsy
Perfect for: eco warriors
Save the planet one sandwich at a time by making your very own beeswax wraps. Whether you use this kit to make your own gifts or give it to someone crafty, it’s easy to make sets of wraps – and stop using unnecessary plastic – with the included blocks of beeswax, jojoba oil and pine resin.
11, Amsterdam mini bag, £23, Lefrik
Perfect for: frequent flyers
Swap bulky backpacks for Lefrik’s tiny but perfectly formed bags, ideal for urban cycling and for travelling hands-free. The Amsterdam bag is just the right size to hold your phone, face mask and wallet. Made from recycled bottles, for extra eco brownie points.
12, Down slippers, £40, Rab
Perfect for: intrepid trekkers
Who knew that tiny sleeping bags for your feet were such a cult item? These snug down slippers were the envy of everyone when I was trekking in the cold Himalayas – they’re perfect for camping, as you can wear them inside a sleeping bag to keep feet toasty in cold temperatures.
13, Scented candle, from £15, The Nomad Society
Perfect for: homebodies
Even if you can’t travel far right now you can still close your eyes and imagine you’re somewhere special with The Nomad Society’s delicately scented soy candles. Wanderlust smells like the Mediterranean coastline, Banana Pancakes will take you back to tropical travels and Smoke & Wood is inspired by log fires in the Pyrenees. The candles are vegan, and the amber glass jars are reusable.
14, Highlands Merino travel scarf, £58.50, Royal Robbins
Perfect for: backpackers
Travelling light? This clever and deliciously soft Merino scarf has strategically-placed buttons, so it can be worn six different ways, including as a shawl and a snood. Ideal for long-haul travel and for backpacking, when space is at a premium.
15, Towelling robe, £69, Maya Rose Sews
Perfect for: wild swimmers
Wrap up warm after a chilly dip in these gorgeous handmade towelling robes. You can order customised designs and Maya also makes mini versions that are perfect for little swimmers, from £45.
